Chemo (5th cycle) Finishes

OK, today was the final infusion of chemo--Cytoxin--for the 5th cycle. One more to go!!!! Jim is doing well so far. They gave extra IV fluids each time he went in for the past 5 days and on Friday, when he goes in for a blood test, he will receive more IV fluids to prevent him from getting dehydrated. We're hoping no high fevers this time because that seems to be what causes him to be admitted to hospital. We will celebrate our 49th Anniversary this Thursday and we expect to celebrate at home and NOT in the hospital! Thanks for all your support! Barbara and Jim

5th Cycle

Yesterday Jim started his 5th cycle of chemo--tolerated it well. Today our friend Maureen is driving him to NIH to have IV fluids and have his bag changed. Still tired and weak, a little less wired on the "half-dose" (120 mg.) of Prednisone--he was able to sleep last night. Thanks to Sally for staying with Jim last evening while I went to see Riverdance at Wolfe Trap with Joe, Ann, and Maureen--it was fabulous! Barbara

Good News

Jim's report on his CT scans was very positive. All the enlarged lymph nodes in his pelvis, abdomen and chest have gone down to normal size!!!! Hooray! Thanks for all of your prayers. He will have just 2 more cycles of Chemo as recommended, starting tomorrow the 5th cycle. He is still very worn out, down to 170 lbs., but the diarrhea is over and his appetite is back. Barbara

CT Scan Done/Bone Marrow Biopsy Delayed

CT Scans were done today--should tell us (on Thursday will get report) about Lymphoma's resonse to chemo. But because Jim is on blood thinners they will postpone the BM biopsy (which will tell about the state of his leukemia) til after the 6th and final cycle. Since the diarrhea is still going on the doctor decided to keep him in for the day to receive (you guessed it) more IV fluids. Home by 5 pm--Jim still worn out and weak. Thanks to all the kind offers of help--it's greatly appreciated. And thanks for all the love, caring, and well wishes. Love, Barbara and Jim

Happy Fathers' Day One and All

Diarrhea back with a vengeance!!!! Went in for IV fluids and home by 2 pm. Love to all, Barbara

Jim's Visit to School

For those of you who enjoyed the heart warming story of Jim's visit to the kids he reads to ( Friday 6/12 Blog entry), here's a picture. He's the guy in the ugly hat.

Posted by andy (Barb's brother)

New Complications

Discouraging day--diarrhea's back--they think it's a return of the C. Difficile--maybe the germ became resistant to Flagyl so they changed it to Vancomycin by mouth. Also noticed a lot of swelling in one leg--a sonogram showed that to be a blood clot in his left leg. Now on a blood thinner called Lovenox--one injection each night. On a positive note--Jim's no longer neutropenic. Still planning on the CT scan on Monday (it was rescheduled), but have to check with the doctor on Monday on whether they will do the bone marrow biopsy while on Lovenox. Hoping for calmer days! Barbara